Photograph background device



Dec. 3, 1957 V. KELJIK PHOTOGRAPH BACKGROUND DEVICE Filed June 28, 1954 IN VENTOR v 66 Va)" lfe/j/k anmg ATTORNEY United States Patent PHOTOGRAPH BACKGROUND DEVICE Ver Keljik, St. Paul, Minn. Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,776 2 Claims. (Cl. 24267.1)

This invention relates to an improvement in photograph background device and deals particularly with an apparatus for supporting a roll of paper, or the like, while is designed to provide a photograph background and in a means for simplifying the cutting of the background sheet after the paper has become soiled.

In taking photographs of persons or objects, it is common practice to employ a background which may be of a type either to add to the interests of the picture or else to prevent distraction from the object being photographed. In other words, it is sometimes advisable to photograph the person or object against a patterned background or a background having a certain color or shade and in other cases it is desirable to photograph the person or object against a plain background which will not detract in any way from the object of the picture. Rolls of paper have been provided for this purpose, these IOlls having in some cases some similarity to wallpaper but being of considerable size. In many instances, in photographing persons it is desirable to use a background sheet which extends down behind the person and then curves without a fold or break to rest on the floor beneath the feet of the person being photographed. As a result the roll of paper must be of considerable length and must also be of considerable width as two or more persons are oftentimes photographed together.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provivision of a pair of roll supports which are supported in spaced relation to depend from the ceiling of a room or to be attached to a wall thereof. These supports are designed to accommodate the core of an elongated roll. This core is provided with a trunnion or pivot extending from one end thereof and a socket extending from the opposite end thereof. The socketed end of the roll is designed to accommodate a rotatable projection which acts to support this end of the roll and which in itself is a part of one of the spaced supports. The other of the supports includes a bearing notch into which the trunnion or pivot at the opposite end of the roll is inserted. Thus, when supported, the roll extends on a substantially horizontal axis and the paper or similar material which is wound thereupon may be rolled or unrolled therefrom.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a roll support which supports a roll of background paper or the like so that it may be easily removed and replaced. In view of the fact that different pictures require different backgrounds, it is desirable that the rolls of background paper be readily removable from their supports and replaced by other rolls of background paper.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a means for rotating the roll when it is supported. A pair of bevel gears are provided, one of which rotates with the roll supporting projection which extends into the socketed end of the roll and the other of which is supported upon a vertical pivot. This vertical pivot is provided with a hook or looped end which may be engaged by a suitable crank device. By rotation of this crank, the bevel gears may be rotated and the pillar supporting the background sheet may be wound in a direc tion to roll up the paper or to roll it down.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pair of spaced supports which are capable of supporting a pair of background sheet rollers in parallel spaced relation. This arrangement is advantageous as in certain instances pictures are taken consecutively on different backgrounds and the provision of two roller supports permits the background to be quickly changed. Furthermore, by this arrangement, it is possible to provide a combination of backgrounds or to provide an unusual elfect particularly when the front background sheet is partially transparent or translucent.

Still another feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a simple and effective device for supporting the rolls when they are not in use. Hook shaped brackets are provided which are designed to engage the rolls at opposite ends thereof so as to maintain the rolls in a horizontal position when they are not in actual servme.

An important feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a device which acts as a weight at the bottom of the background sheet and which also serves as a straight edge along which the sheet may be cut. When the sheet is curved, as has been described, to extend beneath the object being photographed as well as behind the same, the background paper usually becomes soiled. A member is secured to the lower edge of the paper which is formed of two complementary members, one of which extends on each side of the sheet. One of these members preferably forms a straight edge and has a transverse edge which is spaced above the lower edge of the complementary member on the rear of the background sheet. The member on the rear of the background sheet is preferably made of wood so that the sheet may be cut off at any point by merely running a knife or other blade over the sheet along the lower edge of the forward member, cutting against the forward surface of the rear member of the pair. The two bars are preferably provided with clamping means which clamp the two members together to hold the sheet sandwiched therebetween.

These and other objects and novel features of the present invention will be more clearly and fully described in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of my background sheet showing the supports for the background sheet roll and also showing the cutting device at the lower edge of the sheet.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the roll supporting members showing the arrangement of parts therein.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the other roll supporting device designed to support the other ends of the rolls.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the type of bracket which is used to support the rolls when they are not in service.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cutting bar which is clamped to the lower edge of the sheet.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the cutting bar shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an angle bracket which may be used to support the roll supports upon a wall or other vertical surface.

The general assembly of the present device is best illustnated in Figure 1 of the drawings. In this figure, a pair of roll supports are illustrated for supporting a roll which is illustrated in general by the letter A. The roll supports are shown at B and C respectively.

The roll A comprises a generally cylindrical core 10 of any suitable material which acts as a support for the background sheet 11 which is wound thereupon. The background sheet 11 is usually several feet in width so that it may serve as a background for a picture of two or more persons. The length of the background sheet is optional, but it is obviously sufficiently long so that it can be used for numerous pictures, the sheet being cut off after use to remove any soiled portion of the sheet.

The support B is best illustrated in detail in Figure 3 of the drawings. This support is shown as including a baseplate 12 which is designed to extend horizontally along the top of the structure. A vertical web 13 projects downwardly from the base 12 near the center of the base. A pair of laterally extending lugs 14 extend in opposite direction from the web 13 and on a plane intersecting the plane of the web 13 at substantially right angles. The upper surfaces of the lugs 14 are notched as indicated at 15, the lower ends of the notches 15 being rounded to accommodate trunnions or pivots projecting from one end of the roll A. The roll core 10 is provided with an axial projection which is designed to extend in a corresponding notch 15, the roll being held in place by friction. The pivot or trunnion is indicated at 16 in Figure l of the drawings.

The roll is also provided with a sleeve like extension 17 at the end of the roll opposite that bearing the trunnion 16. The sleeve 17 is provided with a socket therein, the socket being multisided to accommodate drive members on the support C which will be later described in detail.

In order to secure the support B to a suit-able supporting member, the baseplate 12 is provided with a series of apertures 19 therein which are designed to accommodate bolts, screws, or the like, for securing the base plate in fixed position upon an inverted channel member 20. This inverted channel member includes a baseplate 21 which is designed to extend against the surface of the ceiling or against the undersurface of supporting beams. The channel also includes parallel sides 22 which are provided at their lower extremity with outwardly projecting flanges 23 which are arranged on a common plane. The flanges 23 are provided with apertures 24 designed to accommodate the bolts for securing the baseplate to the channel and the channel is also provided with apertures such as 25 for supporting the channel to the ceiling or other surface.

Each support C is constructed as best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The support C includes a baseplate 26 having a central web 27 extending downwardly therefrom at right angles thereto. At points spaced from the baseplate 26, a pair of oppositely directed arms 29 are provided, one of which extends in each direction from the central web 27, the two arms being substantially aligned. These arms 29 are provided with parallel bearings 30 through which extend suitable trunnions or pivots 31. The portion of each trunnion 31 projecting beyond the bearing 30 which supports it is squared or is otherwise multisided so as to fit into a similarly shaped socket in the sleeve 17 of the roller core 10. In other words, the parallel'ends of the pivots or trunnions 31 are irregularly shaped so as to fit in corresponding sockets in the rollers so that the trunnions and rollers must rotate in unison. Bevel gears 32 are connected to the pivots 31 on the ends thereof opposite the multisided ends thereof. These bevel gears 32 are connected to the trunnion so as to rotate in unison therewith.

As is also evident fromFigures 1 and 2 of the drawings a second pair of arms 33 project in opposite directions from the central web 27, these arms 33 also extending at right angles to the web and parallel to the first mentioned arms 29. The arms 33 are provided with bearings 34 therein, the bearings 34 having their axes intersecting the axes of the trunnions 31 at substantially right angles. Pivot shafts 35 extend through the bearings 34 and these shafts are equipped at their upper ends with bevel gears 36 which are in mesh with the corresponding bevel 4 gears 32. The lower ends of the shafts 35 are equipped with hooked shaped elements 37 or with eye members into which a hooked shaped element may be inserted for rotating the shafts 35. These hook members 37 are pinned to the shafts 35 as indicated at 39 or are otherwise attached thereto to rotate in unison therewith.

As is indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings any individual roller may be rotated by means of a crank element indicated in general by the letter D. This crank element D includes an elongated shank 40 which is provided at one end with an eye member 41 to accommodate the hook member 37 or alternatively the shank may be provided with a hook which fits into an eye on the corresponding shaft 35. The shank 40 is bent at 42 to provide an angled portion 43 which connects the shank with an offset crank portion 44. The crank portion 44 is connected by a connecting portion 45 to an axial portion 46 which is axially aligned with the shank 40. Handles 47 and 49 are provided on the offset crank portion 44 and on the axial portion 46 respectively.

As is also indicated in the drawings, the support C is mounted upon a channel member 50 which is identical to the channel member 20 previously described. The baseplate 26 of the support C is provided with apertures 51 to accommodate bolts or other fastening means designed to hold the baseplate to the channel 50. The channel 50 is secured to the under-surface of a ceiling or other support.

Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings disclose the supports B and C attached to channels 20 and 50 respectively. As is indicated in Figure 7 of the drawings these supports may similarly be attached to an angle bracket 52 of the type shown in Figure 7. The angle bracket 52 includes a vertical flange 53 and a horizontal flange 54 which are connected by a gusset plate or web 55. The flange 53 is provided with bolt holes 56 which may extend into a wall or other vertical support for holding the bracket in place and the horizontal flange 54 is provided with two sets of apertures 57 which are spaced to correspond with the apertures 51 of the support C and the apertures 19 of the support B so that these supports may be bolted or otherwise affixed to the undersurface of the angle brackets such as 52.

As is best indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, angle brackets are also provided which may be mounted in vertically spaced relation upon a wall or other similar support so that the rolls may be supported in storage when not in use. The angle brackets are indicated in general by the letter E and include a baseplate 59 which is provided with mounting apertures 60 by means of which the angle bracket may be held in place. Each baseplate 59 is provided with a right angularly extending arm 61 having a notch 62 in its uppersurface. The notches 62 are of proper size to accommodate the projecting trunnions 16 of the rollers or the sleeves 17 at the other ends of the rollers. The angle brackets are properly spaced so that the bodies of the rollers extend the brackets and hold the rolls from any substantial longitudinal movement.

Springs or spring washers 58 are usually provided between the bevel gears and their supporting bearings. These washers resist rotation of the gears, preventing the roll of paper from unwinding due to the weight of the paper and of the cutting bar.

The cutting bar is indicated in general by the letter F and is best shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings. The bar includes two portions, one of which is indicated by the numeral 63 and the other of which is identified by the numeral 64. In the particular arrangement illustrated the bar member 63 is substantially semicylindrical in cross section, but is provided with a flat surface 65 thereon which is at right angles to the flat side of the bar. This flat surface forms a shoulder or straight edge along which a knife blade may be passed, the blade being designed to cut through the sheet 11 along the marginal edge of the shoulder 65. The member 64 is preferably a flat metal bar having a reinforcing rib along at least one edge thereof, and having a groove 68 therein into which the trimming knife may extend. A pair of spaced clamping bolts 66 extend through the two bars, these bolts being accommodated with wing nuts 67 or other suitable means by which a clamping action may be applied to the bars so as to hold the sheet 11 sandwiched therebetween.

In attaching the cutting member F to the sheet, the clamping bolts 66 are removed and the sheet is inserted between the bars. The clamping bolts are then forced through the sheet and the wing nuts 67 applied and tightened to hold the cutting bar in proper position. The marginal lower edge of the sheet may be trimmed off by means of a knife or other cutting blade which cuts the sheet along the straight edge shoulder 65 and against the projecting portion of the bar 64.

When it is desired to trim off the lower portion of the sheet, the clamping bolts are again removed and the cutting bar is slid longitudinally of the sheet to .a new position. The clamping bolts are reinserted and the nuts tightened to hold the bar in right angles to the length of the sheet. The sheet is then again trimmed off in the manner previously described.

The cutting bar serves the purpose of a weight so as to hold the sheet in a vertical position until the cutting bar contacts the floor. If the object or objects being photographed is to over 'e the sheet, the cutting bar is drawn forwardly along the floor to a desired position and the weight thereof tends to hold the sheet gently curved so that there is no sharp break or fold between the upperwardly extending portion of the sheet and the horizontal portion thereof.

When the use of the background sheet is completed, the crank D is applied to the member 37 and the crank is rotated so as to roll the sheet up upon the roll core. When rolled up, the roll may be removed from its support and placed upon a pair of spaced storage brackets B. Any desired background sheet may be chosen and the roll supporting the sheet may be placed in position between the supports B and C, the sheet being rolled or unrolled to the desired extent.

In accordance with the patent statutes, the principles of construction and operation of the photograph background device have been described and while it has been endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, it is desired to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A photograph background device including in combination a roll, an elongated sheet of flexible photograph background material wound upon said roll, an adjustable weight member attachable to said sheet to be moved longitudinally and extend transversely thereof, and a supporting bracket for supporting each end of said roll, each of said brackets including a generally horizontal baseplate, a web centrally secured to said baseplate, and depending therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, a pair of arms extending laterally from opposite sides of each of said webs, the arms of one of said brackets having notches in the uppersurfaces thereof, a trunnion at one end of said roll rotatably supported in one of said notches, a sleeve at the other end of said roll, said sleeve having a socket therein, a pair of pivots extending through the arms of the other bracket, an end of one of the pivots extending into said socket, a second pair of arms projecting from the central Web of the second bracket, pivot shafts extending through said second arms, the axes of each of the last mentioned pivot shafts intersecting the axes of corresponding first mentioned pivots, and bevel gears on said pivots and said pivot shafts, the bevel gears on the right angularly extending pivots being in mesh.

2. A photograph background device including a pair of opposed brackets, each bracket including a generally horizontal mounting plate, a web secured to said plate to extend downwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, an enlarged portion supported by said web below said plate, an upwardly opening groove in said enlarged portion of one of said brackets, a shaft supported on a horizontal axis in the enlarged portion of the other of said bracket, a multi-sided end on said shaft, a bearing supported by said web having its axis at right angles to, and intersecting, the axis of said shaft, a second shaft supported by said bearing, bevel gears on said shafts in mesh to rotate both shafts in unison, and means on said second shaft designed for engagement with a shaft rotating device, a roll, a trunnion on one end of said roll supported in said groove in said one bracket, a multi-sided socket in the other end of said roll embracing said multi-sided shaft end, a background sheet on said roll, and an adjustable weight member on said sheet and extending transversely thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,090 Finan Jan. 22, 1907 1,331,584 Rosenfeld Feb. 24, 1920 1,375,169 Parks Apr. 19, 1921 1,589,207 Miller June 15, 1926 1,803,286 Thatcher Apr. 28, 1931 1,832,446 Boe Nov. 17, 1931 1,836,815 Reeves Dec. 15, 1931 2,446,103 Pettyjohn July 27, 1948 

